Abstract
Navigation through complex indoor environments can be disorienting, a problem that is compounded by limited accuracy of indoor positioning techniques. This disclosure describes techniques that enable users to digitally trace their path and to enable them to retrace their path from the destination back to the start point. With user permission, tracing starts when a user marks their present spot. Tracing the user’s path is based on data from various sensors on a smartphone, wearable device, or other devices. As the user moves, the digital yarn unspools, recording the user’s movement. A visual trail is created and displayed as an unspooling ball of yarn. Pit stops can be marked to pause unspooling of the digital yarn. A return option enables the user to retrace their path when they want to return to their starting point. The yarn analogy in the user interface enables an interactive and easy comprehension of the user’s movement through a densely built-up or confusing area.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Babu, Manasa, "Digital Ball of Yarn for Indoor Positioning and Path Tracing", Technical Disclosure Commons, (September 18, 2024)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/7368